Here in The Good Land I made my place beside the still waters. I became a tiller of the soil, a keeper of the flocks, and a hater of pigs.

Ohiofarmgirl's Adventures in The Good Land is largely a fish out of water tale about how I eventually found my footing on a small farm in an Amish town. We are a mostly organic, somewhat self sufficient, sustainable farm in Ohio. There's action and adventure and I'll always tell you the truth about farming.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

A Brave Warrior Falls. The End of the Adventure Tails.

“I'm
just getting warmed up, Sir, it is you who cannot keep up with me!”
Col Ti answered.

The two
war companions were fighting as they did in the old days, surrounded
by foes, fighting back to back. The melee of battle around them. But
neither felt more at home. Or more alive.

The evil
rat fiends and the mouse menace had joined forces and called the
fighters of the Good Land into open combat. OFG and Col Ti had
answered with a merciless show of force. It would not be long and
these rodents would know the true meaning of the word defeat.

The mud
and the blood and the chaos that was hand to hand combat swirled
around them. They were holding their ground. OFG's forces were making
her proud. She could hear the horns cry out their commands, see the
banners direct the ground troops to their next moves, and very soon
this battle would be very handily sorted out.

Out of
the corner of her eye she saw her fighters advance. It was all going
perfectly according to plan. Overhead she heard hundreds of arrows
from her archers fly overhead. That would drive those stupid mice
back. They could advance now.

“At
sides!” She cried to Col Ti and as one they both took opposite
steps and now were fighting side by side. They fought mightily.

“We'll
be home for dinner soon.....” She said.

“Just
as soon as I finish off a new more of these damnable creatures! Then
you can count my kills and see I've bested you once again!” Col Ti
roared a laugh that struck terror into the hearts of enemy.

OFG
turned to answer the jibe with her own when she saw it. It seemed
impossibly slow. There he was, her most trusted, most able
battlemate, her First in Command, her Right Hand. Col Ti was robust
and full of life, his massive figure against the backdrop of the
day's warring when it struck.

The
arrow.

She
tried but could not break it's path. She could not pull him to
safety. It was insidious. Wrathful. It struck true. She watched in
horror as it pierced Col Ti and struck him down. She felt it as
surely as it had ran through her own heart.

“NO!”
She roared. “No! Ti! No!”

OFG had
seen death. She had seen those she loved be taken. She knew that an
old warrior like Col Ti would not live forever. But she did not think
it would be here. She did not think it would be this day.

He was
on the ground. Mortally wounded. She was there with him. The battle
continued to rage around them as if her world had not just ended.

“Get
up. Get up, Ti, get up. No, no, no...”

He was
calm. He looked at his wound. He knew. “No.” He said. “I am
struck down.”

She was
crying hot tears now, refusing to believe what she was seeing. “Get
up! Get up, Ti. Get on your feet, soldier!” She ordered trying to
pull him to his feet.

The
wound was beyond repair. They both knew it.

“No,
stop it now.” Col Ti said to her, almost gently. “Don't do this.
Do not deny me a glorious death in battle. Today is a good day to
die. We will be victorious and you will sing song of this day and
tell stories on how this day was won! Tell them of how I fought by
your side today and all of these long years.”

He
reached up and brushed away her tears. She held his big hand to her
face, she kissed it, she was still shaking her head. “Don't go, Ti,
I need you.”

But his
eyes were past seeing her now. He was looking just beyond her. “Do
you hear it? My ancestors call to me!” A wolfish grin past over his
lips. “Do you hear the songs? I... I... have only heard that
language in my dreams! Such proud songs being sung! Such bold
warriors! And oh, the feast! Do you smell the roasts on the spits!
Have you ever seen so much bloodwine!”

He
reached out weakly as if he was pushing open a large door.

“There!
Look there! There are the brothers of my youth! I have not seen them
since I left my own mother's door. Such brave warriors – look at
them. Do you see them? Such a great company!”

OFG was
crying hard tears. “Please, Ti, don't...How can I do this without
you? My most beloved companion. Please... please...”

In a
final moment of clarity he looked at her. He saw her and said firmly,
“It is your only command that I cannot obey. I cannot stay. You
must let me go to the halls of my ancestors. This body is ruined. Be
glad that I lived such a good life with you. Be glad I will not grow
old and feeble, unable to walk, or work, or be of any use. Look at
me. I am strong and clear … I do not want to die an old feeble man
muttering into my porridge. Death comes for us all and I will meet
it head on. It is my time.”

He
continued, “Do not be afraid, my master, The Shining Light of the
Realm will show you the way. And what harm can befall you if you
stand under the Shadow of the Black Death? Kai and Zander will help
you now. They will be your companions. Let them guard you well. But
you must let me go. ”

Acceptance
gradually washed across OFG's face, through her tears. She struggled
to find the words to tell him how grateful she was for every day they
were together. To tell him how proud she was of him. To thank him for
all their long years together. To say everything she ever wanted him
to know... but he already knew these things. There was no need for
grand gestures now in these last few moments. All the love she had
for him had been given freely – on each of their days together. He
knew.

“If
you wish, I will wait for you outside the doors of The Great Feast,
my master, I will wait until you join me. When I hear of your coming
I will gather the others and hail you home. I will cry out to you –
my war cry will be loud and long and you will know it is me. We will
all run to greet you and usher you home. I will do this. It may be
long years for you but it will be just a moment for me. I've waited
all these years to go home to my ancestors... I can wait .. just... a
few...”

And then
he was gone.

Across
the battlefield The Dread Commander Zander, The Black Death, saw Col
Ti fall. He saw his mother throw herself down to him, to hold his
hand, to look into his eyes, and now she was burying her face in his
chest.

“To
your liege!” He cried and rallied his men, barking orders, and
urging them to OFG. The men spread out around her.

From up
on the hill The Princess Kai heard the urgent horns she turned to see
her mother's standard bearers run up the black flag. She knew what
that meant.

“Fighters!
On me – and try to keep up you slackards! Fight you fools, fight
like your very lives depend on it. Now run!” Kai's fighting forces
cut through the enemy like a scythe. Kai raced dangerously
ahead of her men but she was relentless. The sunlight caught her flaming battle tiara and she was The Shining Light of the Realm.

The Princess Kairan with such force that
when she reached the fallen Col Ti she skidded to a stop. The
warrior Princess crouched low in front of her mother, guarding her and the
fallen hero. Kai took the brunt of the blows and her men killed the
enemy without mercy.

There in
the midst of battle Zander stood over them, fighting their foes.
Zander's mighty shadow covered OFG slumped over the dead body of Col
Ti.

Time
passed.

A small
figure hurried through the darkness of the forest. A pale moon barely
lit the path but she went as fast as she could, completely aware that
she was being followed. Little Mo was absolutely the worst tracker in
the history of the Good Land. She hoped he would give up but she had
to admit he was determined to keep up with her.

Finally
she stopped. “Come out, Little Mo, I know you are there.”

She
turned and waited for him to come out from behind the tree. He peeped
around the trunk, his wide eyes reflecting in the moonlight. “You
need to go back, Little Mo.”

He
stepped up to her determinedly. “Sir, I am going with you.” He
had a small pack and was wearing his traveling clothes. He looked at
her, pleading. “Please, Sir. You need me.”

She was
dressed as a traveler also and not as their leader. She didn't even
carry her axe...but Little Mo had it in his pack for her.

OFG
sighed heavily and swept the hood from the nondescript cloak off her
head. Little Mo could see the silver in her once dark hair. For
perhaps the first time he noted the lines on her face. She never did
recover from the death of Col Ti. He had won a glorious death in
battle but it was she who carried a wounded heart that would not
heal.

“You
cannot come with me, Little Mo.” She said firmly. She held up her
hands to stay his protests. “The Good Land needs to you stay.
Zander needs you to stay and help him. Together with Bitty they need
to rule the Good Land and you need to help them. Do this for me,
Little Mo. Please.”

From in
the darkness a horse nickered and stepped. Little Mo looked up to see
the big man seated on the enormous black horse with no name.

OFG
gestured to the big man. “You know that I cannot be married to both
the Good Land and also to my mate. It is time, Little Mo. Do you know
the best thing about getting older? It is that you know when it is
time for the younger ones to take over. This is Zander's time. Bitty
came to us at just the right time. Kai has gone off to establish her
own Lands. This is the turning of the page. Zander and Bitty can do
this but they need your guidance. Please, Little Mo, for me.”

She drew
Little Mo to her and kissed him on the top of his head. “Go on now,
go home. I have other adventures to find. And your place is here.”

Little
Mo blinked back tears and nodded. He watched as the big man pulled
OFG up onto the horse behind him. She looked back once at him, then
turned, and they rode away into the darkness. Begrudgingly Little Mo
turned back to walk home. The moonlight seemed paler and the night
seemed colder. It was a long walk back alone.

Little
Mo silently crossed the Great Hall. The Commander Zander would not
want him as an adviser. Surely he would chose one of his own men.
Little Mo arrived in the Good Land alone, and he would depart as
such. He wondered what would become of him.

A
figured stirred and Little Mo started. “Oh.. I'm... Commander, I am
so sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you.”

Zander
was sitting in OFG's chair on the dais... his elbows on his knees. It
was dark except of the soft light thrown by the braziers. He looked
sullen.

“So
she is gone then?” Asked Zander. Little Mo only nodded.

“I was
just getting my things. I will pack them up and go....” Said Little
Mo.

“Go?
Go where” Zander seemed concerned.

“I
just thought that you would find someone else. I ...” Stammered
Little Mo.

“Someone
else? No.” Zander shook his head. “I don't know the first thing
about administrations, Little Mo. I'm a soldier. I...” He spread
his arms, “I don't even know what we should do tomorrow. I...”

“Well,
I happen to have a list here, Commander...” Little Mo pulled a
scroll out of his sleeve. “I have the schedule here and the duty
roster and...”

“See?
This is why I need you.” Zander smiled appreciatively. “Please
stay on, Little Mo. I really want you to stay. She trusted you and so
do I. Come, let us talk like men.”

Little
Mo bowed low. “Of course, Commander. One thing I think we should
consider, now that she has gone, we should shore up our alliances.
Surely someone will try and test your resolve. I recommend we
immediately send word to have a Counsel.”

“Agreed.
I should meet with Bourbon of the Red, the old bastard. My mother
regarded him as her own brother. But I never cared for him. Do you
know that he once chucked my chin when I was a pup?”

Little
Mo looked surprised, “You don't say.”

“It's
true. I showed him my teeth, yes, I did. He is still probably
terrified.” Zander and Little Mo laughed a little.

Little
Mo crossed his arms and thought. “Well, she cannot go to see her
own brother, Henri the Bold, in the Land of the Ocean's Tide.. you
know well of 'The Troubles”... so not there. But there are rumors
she has a sister in the Land of Ever Summer. She is said to be fair
haired and the Mother of Many. Apparently she leads a band of warrior
maidens.”

“A
sister?” Exclaimed Zander, “By the heavens can you imagine two of
them?” He shook his head chuckling.

Zander
and Little Mo glanced at each other, grinning. Then the slightest
look of pain crossed their faces. The both nodded to each other
knowingly. Then Little Mo and Commander Zander got up and started to
make their way across the dimly lit Great Hall.

“Onward,
then?” Asked Zander.

“And
upward.” Said Little Mo.

The
scene faded to black, then opened again. This time outside a small
house in the rural Ohio countryside. Two people were busily loading
the last of the boxes and tools onto a huge, black, Greyhound style
bus. The big man got in the driver' seat and started the engine –
the bus roared to life.

“We
are ready for action!” He said to her. “Almost done?”

“I
dunno, I feel like we are missing someone. Let's do a tail check...
one, two....” She started counting an unusually large number of
cats in cages line up along the walls of the bus. She got distracted
and looked up. “Hey honey, does this big ol' bus have a name?”

“Nope.”
He said. “And it's not going to have one either. Do you know why?”

She went
back to counting cat butts, “Huh?”

“So we
can say that..... we've been thru the desert on a bus with no
name...” He started singing, “It felt good to be out of the
rain...In the desert you can remember your name...”

She
suddenly ran into the house and came about out carrying a huge gray
cat in a too-small carrier who was loudly protesting. “We almost
forgot Nicholas!”

“Don't
forget the Nicholas, baby!” He laughed.

Nicholas
yowled his discontent. But now they were all loaded. The bus had all
the seats taken out of it and was converted into a kind of Noah's
Ark. It was filled with dogs and cats all securely in the places for
The Long Drive.

“So,”
Said the woman, “We are just gonna drive away from our life here.
Just take all our people and go?”

“Yep.”
He said. “We are pointed in the direction of adventure.” He
looked at her, “You OK, baby?” He said putting his hand on her
arm.

“I'm
just thinking of everything that happened. We had a lot of good times
here in this good land... and we got a lot of good friends here.”
She said gesturing to the bus full of cats and dogs. “I guess we
are leaving some behind too.” A tear welled in her eye.

“My
old lady cats, your good ol' girl Shady, Grumpy old Teddi...and...”
She stopped herself and tried to refocus. “I just...Wow. We've
lived a whole life here.” She wiped the tear away and made herself
smile. “But it's time to go and do something different.”

“So..
onward then?” He asked.

“And
upward.” She said.

For the
last time she walked out to the gate, opened it, let the the huge bus
roll passed, closed the gate, and then hung up a sign.

She
hurried to the door of the bus and climbed in and exclaimed,
“Ohmigosh, who has the toots?!? Is it dogs? Do dogs have toots? Oh
boy.. this is going to be a long drive. Are we there yet?”

“Ha
ha.” Said the man and he checked his mirrors one more time.

The bus
pulled out of the drive and headed in the direction of adventure.
Dogs barked, cats screamed, and the two people laughed.

Back on
the gate a sign read, “The End.”

And
that, friends, is The End of the Adventure Tails.

Editor's note: Friends, as you know there is always some truth in our Adventure Tails - we call them "Not Entirely Fiction" for a reason. We here have received some devastating news. I'll provide the "what really happened" tomorrow. I know that there are a lot of questions and they will be answered. Until then, thank you for your loving support.

About Me

In my previous life I was a fussy, type-a tech gal..and now.. now here I am in the flyover zone on a farm. I gave up my Big Life and I became a tiller of the soil, a keeper of the flocks, and a hater of pigs.

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